Imajjjin, a multi-generational metal band from Kansas, blends diverse influences to create a unique sound. They discuss their journey, challenges, and future plans.
1. Can
you tell us how Imajjjin was formed and what influenced your multi-generational
sound?
Imajjjin
was formed by its original members being inspired by our individual
influences combined with our own talent. We all felt very ready to write
and perform together. Our multi-generational sound comes from the group being
spread out in the age department, so we all grew up on different music. We
believe our tastes blend well to form Imajjjin's sound; With
influences from groups like Trivium, Megadeth, Pantera, Death, Killswitch
Engage, Type-O Negative, Exodus, Decapitated, Metallica, Iron Maiden, and many
more really
2. Your
debut EP, "Path of the Nomad," was released in 2018. Can you share
the inspiration behind the title and the overall theme of the EP?
We were
sitting in an Irish restaurant in Manhattan Kansas, discussing all
the recording we had just completed and trying to discover its overall theme.
We had agreed that it was simply a compilation of melodies, lyrics, ideas, and
just plain hard life stuff that we had all been carrying up to that point.
It was almost a combination of all our stories, and we didn't have
any idea where it was going. So Ian coined the titie Path Of The Nomad.
3. Your
music ranges from melodic and expressive to brutally heavy and angry. How do
you balance these diverse elements in your songwriting process?
We try
to arrange things in a way that connects with how we feel about
the context while we are writing it. Human emotions are not so very
predictable, neither is life. Music is in it's simplest form, an
expression of self that cannot be just spoken alone. It must be felt to be even
a little bit understood. We are simply expressing ourselves, not trying to
balance things for the listener. But if it balances out then good!
4. "An
Arduous Bloodlust" was released in 2022, and you have a new single
"Galaxa" that has come out now. How do these singles differ from your
earlier work, and what can fans expect from what is to come?
The
mentioned singles were other naturally composed songs. There is plenty of
guitarwork, melody, and lead playing, which is not uncommon for Imajjjin. We
also made the structure a little different, to suit the context of course. But
we were simply trying to express ourselves and write good songs
5. Could
you walk us through your creative process? How do you go from an initial idea
to a finished song?
Jessie and
Jackson will typically write the skeleton for a song on guitar,
whether individually or together. They will present the idea and some context,
and we will get to work on "finding the song". Next Adam and Steve
write their parts, and then the tricky part, this "finding the song".
That's where Fallon comes in, she writes lyrics alone, and with the group,
then we try to figure out how all the parts compliment each other. This usually
depends completely on the vocal parts being written so we can then reform the
song around them. Sometimes this makes a very big change, but it is always very
beneficial to the song and Fallon has a real ear for it. It's very
impressive to us once it all comes together
6. Performing
live is a big part of being a metal band. What can fans expect from an Imajjjin
live show, and how do you prepare for your performances?
Fans can expect high energy and lots of heavy
guitar interaction. Our bass player Adam is always up to unique antics on stage
as well. For example, at the T-Bar's Rally benefit show, Adam hopped up on the
passenger seat of our friend's Harley Davidson and did laps around the crowd
while we played the intro to the first song of the night! We typically prepare
for a performance by taking it easy and relaxing until dinner, then the
band has dinner together if we can, then we book it to the venue to watch
the other bands play. During the set prior to ours, we all warm up in our own
boring ways.
7. Being
from Kansas, how do you see the metal scene in the Midwest, and what role do
you think Imajjjin plays in it?
Man, it can
be tough sometimes. Especially not being "From" a big city.
Fortunately, there are some great people out there looking for talent that have
become good friends of ours. We have a long way to go, but we have been blessed
in a lot of places we didn't expect to be blessed. We have always seen
ourselves as "The red-headed step-child" of every Scene we are a part
of. Because we live so far from everywhere! Luckily, our set seems to
impress
8. What
have been some of the biggest challenges you've faced as a band, and what are
some of your proudest moments?
The biggest
challenges usually come in the form of everyday life, life gets in the way of
dreams sometimes and we have to address things appropriately and make sure
that our priorities are in check. The members of Imajjjin live within a 3 hour
drive of a bubble and getting together for rehearsal can be challenging at
times. Some of our proudest moments would include: Being asked to play The
Granada in Lawrence, KS for our second ever show. Opening for Narcotic
Wasteland last Halloween. And Watching Fallon, our vocalist, go from being a
shy fan of ours to being the monster on stage and in studio that she
is now.
9. What
plans does Imajjjin have for the future? Are there any upcoming tours or new
projects in the works?
No current
upcoming tours just yet, but Jessie will be announcing his second solo
album soon hopefully. We are trying to focus on writing as we prepare for our
next chapter. Fallon is still fairly new in the band and we have a lot of
writing to do, but we are very excited about how it all has been coming
together. We have some unreleased songs that have us very happy in
our place with Fallon on the microphone.
10. How
important is fan interaction for Imajjjin, and how do you stay connected with
your audience, especially through social media?
Fan
interaction is number two, only below the self expression through our art. We
love making music, and we appreciate our fans tremendously. Online interaction
can be tricky, but the right post at the right time can get people excited. We
try our best to be as present as we can be while attending other shows as well
as our own. You never know who you are meeting until after the first impression
is over
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